Why Big #Oil+#Coal Are Worried? #Solar #PV Demand In Middle East & #Africa To Grow 50% This Year #Ener…

Solar photovoltaic demand from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is set to grow 50% in 2014, according to new research from NPD Solarbuzz. Between 2014 and 2018, annual PV demand will nearly triple as the MEA region becomes a key market for the global industry. PV demand from the MEA region in 2013 grew by 670% compared to 2012, when the region added approximately 140 MW, the report says. By 2018, annual PV demand in the MEA region is expected to reach 4.4 GW, with an upside potential of 10 GW. Previously, the region had a substantial share of small off-grid PV systems. However, the grid-connected segment became the main factor driving growth to more than 1 GW in 2013, NPD Solarbuzz says, with 1.6 GW forecast for 2014. In 2018, ground-mount systems will account for over 70% of the market. Until now, PV growth in the MEA region has been predominantly driven by a small...